Easy Visco machine - Mk. 2

Following the success of the first visco fuse machine eBook featured on this site, I wanted to go back to the fundamentals and create a design that truly everyone can make!

No drills, saws, or fancy hardware needed! This design takes the most basic of household materials and tools and allows you to create a fully functioning visco fuse machine like the one below!

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One of the best pieces of feedback I received about the first design was how simple and encouraging it was for beginners. I wanted to build on this strength and create a design that someone without so much as a toolset, let alone a workshop, would be able to make.

The original design first features on this site will still be available (and can be found here), as it provides a more robust model for long-term use, but if you’re looking for a design that you can make easily with hardly any tools then this second model will give you just that – it provides an entry-level design accessible to all which is still able to make a high-quality visco style fuse!

Please see the video below which shows the prototype model in action plus burn tests of the fuse both with and without a waterproof lacquer coating. Please note, the model and plans have been refined since making this video to make the construction even easier! Apologies for filming this in portrait, I'll know for next time!

This model can easily produce fuse at the rate of 3 feet per minute. The fuse itself has a diameter of 2mm, achieving a consistent burn rate of 0.8cm/sec, even underwater! Not bad for a machine that you can easily make for next to nothing!

You'll see from the video above just how simple yet, effective this design is. You’ll also see from the related videos that most designs out there are complicated, and the level of fabrication involved can be off-putting – having to source bearings, wood &/or metals for the main body of the construction and motors. Assembly of these designs usually requires power tools, fine drill bits and a range of manual tools including hammers and saws. This design is different - you can make the whole thing using only the equipment listed below, most of which can be found in a pencil case!

As one YouTube commenter put it:
"I love how basic and low cost you made your machine yet very functional. I spent a lot of time on mine before I got it to produce perfect visco. I did it but it was far from easy, then again I didn't have a shop and fancy tools like some guys, but you just showed that's not necessary. Kudos."

Equipment list                        Materials list

Glue (PVA or glue gun)              Small apple boxes x2

Craft knife                               Cardboard tube (from cling film/aluminium foil etc) x1

Ruler                                       Cereal boxes x2

Pen/pencil                               500ml plastic Dr Pepper bottles (or similar) x2

Scissors                                    A4 paper x1

Paperclip                                 Foam pizza base x4

Lighter/candle                         Wooden BBQ skewers x6

Cocktail sticks                          Large rubber bands x2 (16cm, 3mm in width)

Compass

The materials used for the construction of this design are simply cardboard, paper, plastic and foam…oh and a few wooden skewers. This design was specifically tailored to be made from household materials or those that are both easily and cheaply acquired!

This design removes a large part of the fabrication needed for most models by utilising the existing shapes of household items such as plastic bottles and apple boxes. The entire model can be made in less than an hour with the minimum of cost.

This eBook contains over 5000 words and 69 pictures across 25 pages, which may sound like a lot for a simple project, but that’s because every step is broken down and explained thoroughly to make the build as straightforward as possible. The whole model can be easily made with materials you probably already have, without the need for specialised tools.

The PDF file eBook is ready for instant download at £5.00 via PayPal's secure checkout. The sale will be delivered by Payhip, once payment is complete you will be emailed receipt confirmation and provided with your unique download details - Just click the "Buy now" button below!

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All of the information you need to make this super easy Visco machine is right here in one place! Just like with the first model on this site, all of the details have been brought together in this comprehensive guide.

All fireworks carry some level of risk but having a safe and reliable fuse greatly reduces the chances of damage or injury. That’s why it’s so important to have a fuse you can trust!

The requirement for the first model on this site was to make a Visco machine that was:

• Compact, and so easily stored.
• Easy to construct.
• Cheap to build.
• Easy to operate.
• Quiet.
• Able to produce small to medium lengths of fuse easily and quickly.
• Hand powered – reducing complexity, cost (both of materials and in operation) and noise.

This, in turn, would need to produce a fuse that:

• Has a consistent burn rate.
• Is reliable – i.e. it will continue to burn in confined spaces, such as the exhaust port of a rocket nozzle.
• Can be waterproofed.
• Will be strong enough to withstand pyrotechnic charges (such as those in lift charges and break charges) but still be flexible enough to cope with a certain amount of manipulation.

This new design fulfils all of the above requirements for both the machine and the fuse it produces, and in addition to the original design, this model requires next to no special skills/tools.

The finished model looks simple, and to be fair, that’s the point! It took a long time to design a model which would meet the criteria listed above yet be as simple as possible and use readily available materials. The less complicated a system, the less there is to go wrong with it. Anyone who has battled the trial and error of getting a Visco machine to work without instructions will testify that the fewer times you have to thread the “Dies” the better!

There are many good reasons for making your own fuse, such as:

• Once everything is set up, production of homemade fuse is often much cheaper than buying fuse.
• You can tailor the fuse to the specific requirements you have for a given application i.e. burn rate, fuse dimensions, effects (flying fish, coloured flames etc.)
• You can have fuse “on tap” whenever you want it.
• Having the satisfaction of making the fuse yourself – after all, the whole reason you’re making fireworks in the first place instead of buying them (fuse and all) is that you appreciate having put in the effort to understand the processes and get it right for yourself.

This design produces a Visco style fuse which has its nitrocellulose lacquer applied in a separate process, as described on the page Nitrocellulose lacquer - coating your fuse.

As I’ve said, “All fireworks carry some level of risk” and that’s why it’s important that you take all necessary safety precautions – including reading this eBook’s disclaimer (which is included in the eBook), which you can read by clicking here  - also available under "Pages" (top right of any webpage).

You won't find an easier and more comprehensive design than this model. Download the eBook now and start making your own fuse today!

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Fuse fireworks

Two basic but fun fireworks can be made simply using visco style fuse.

This is because visco style fuse, using a fast burning black powder, generates thrust as it burns and in small amounts can therefore propel itself.

Cut into small sections, visco style fuse can make “flying fish”. Flying fish produce an effect similar to a tiny rocket but they are not stabilised by fins or rotary motion. The result is a sparking, glowing dart which flies off in any direction it wishes (as seen below) and can be used in mines, shells and rockets.

Fuse spinners also take advantage of the thrust generated by visco style fuse. Simply bend the fuse into a curve, or producing the visco in this manner, will form a spinner. This is similar to the flying fish effect but the direction of the thrust is projected at an angle to the rest of the fuse body. This spins the fuse and prevents it flying off in any given direction. This produces a simple spinning effect showering sparks in all directions and can be used in the air and as a ground effect, as shown in the video below. The video also shows a simple flash powder report added to one of the spinners for an extra effect.

Fuse comparison - Visco vs Fuse paper & Blackmatch

In short, fuse paper is made by impregnating paper (typically kitchen towel) with a potassium nitrate solution which is left to dry. Blackmatch is produced by treating threads (or string) with a slurry of black powder to form a coating before being left to dry.

Lots of people make fuse paper and blackmatch as it's seen as being easier than making your own visco.

This is true of the initial outlay of time and resources, but once you've made a visco weaving model it's actually faster and a lot less hassle to make visco than fuse paper or blackmatch.

An important point is that although fuse paper and blackmatch can prove adequate, it's much less reliable than visco style fuse - as demonstrated in the video below (description underneath).

The first clips show that fuse paper can easily be blown out and whilst blackmatch is unlikely to go out its burn rate rapidly increase with increased airflow, neither of which is good for safe timings of fireworks. Visco fuse doesn't have this issue.

Fuse paper and black match are both unreliable in confined spaces as shown in the rocket nozzle example, occasionally burning out just as the fuse reaches the exhaust port. Again, visco fuse doesn't have this problem.

Finally, the lighting and burn rates of fuse paper and blackmatch can be inconsistent. Fuse papers burn rate will often slow and speed up again whilst blackmatch tends to burn a little too fast for ideal use in firework timings. In any event neither of these are suitable for more complex devices as they'll not withstand the force of a lift charge/break charge. The final clip shows blackmatch burning too fast, whilst fuse paper doesn't light at all in this example. Visco style fuse ignites perfectly and burns with a slow and steady rate.

Visco style fuse is also waterproof.

These are just a few reasons why visco style fuse is preferable to more basic fuses.